Watt-hour meter



Feb. 23, 1937.

w. G. MYLlus 2,071,936

WATT-HOUR METER Filed Oct. 3, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheetl 1 WITNESSES;

INVENToR Wa/er 6. My//us ATT N EY Feb- 23, 1937. w. G. MYLlUs l2,071,936

WATT-HOUR METER Filed Oct. 3, 1935 2 Shee'cS-Shee'fl 2 356 V VITNESSES:32 INVENTQR* Q/16.0% mfg/fer ci M Us Gy/W BY M ATT EY Patented Feb. 23,1937N UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Walter G. Mylius, Summit, N. J.,assignor to Westinghouse Electric a; Manufacturing Company, EastPittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application October 3,1935, Serial No. 43,343

4Claims.

The present invention relates to watthour meters of the so-calleddetachable type, as shown, for example, in U. S. Patent No. 1,969,499,issued August 7, 1934, to W. M. Bradshaw, et al., and

s has particular reference to an improved supporting socket or base forsuch meter, particulariy adapted for mounting meters of this characteron switch boxes or on channels which enclose the conductors of a groupinstallation.

It will be appreciated that the meter installation as disclosed in theabove-numbered patent is primarily a unit installation and is notpeculiarly adapted for mounting in connection with switch and fuseboxes, switchboards or the like. It is 15 an object of the presentinvention to provide an improved base or socket construction which isrelatively inexpensive andwhich extends the eld in which the detachablemeter may be used.

In practicing the invention, the supporting base 2o or socket is ofskeleton form comprising a ring of sheet material, such as sheet steel,having a.

' bridge extending across it, preferably diametrically, which supportscontact socket assemblies which are spaced to receive the contact bladesg projecting from a detachable meter casing.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a meter supporting socket constructed inaccordance with the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a view in section taken on the line 1I-i1 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a view in section of the present invention as applied to ameter and a supporting channel or box which encloses the service and 35supply conductors of a metering installation.

Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of an improved conductor clampemployed with the present lnvention, v

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the clamp shown in Fig.

40 5. and

Fig. 6 is a view in vertical section of the clamp shown in Fig. 5.

Referring more particularly to Figs. i and 2, the meter supporting baseor socket in accord- 45 ance with the present invention comprises asubstantially cylindrical or ring shaped member 2, which is preferablyformed from a strip of Asheet material, such as steel or other suitablemetal. A radially extending flange 4 is formed from one 50 edge of themember 2 and an outwardly extending ilange 8 inclined slightly towardthe flange 4 extends from the other edge of the member 2.

Both flanges may be formed at the same time by a rolling operation.

55 'Iheangetisadaptedtooverlieauopening in a support of any kind, suchas the cover of a switch or fuse box, or a rectangular plate whichconstitutes one section of the closure for a conductor carrying channel,or a switchboard.

The ange 6 ls proportioned to confront the base flange of a detachablemeter and be clamped thereto by a sealing ring as described more indetail in connection with Fig. 3.

A bridge 8, also of sheet material, extends diametrically across themember 2 and the free ends thereof, which are bent to conform to theinner curvature of the member 2, may be welded to the latter orotherwise suitably secured. In accordance with the present invention,however, it is desired that one end of the bridge 8 overlap the two freeabutting ends i0 (Fig. 1) of the member 2 and when welded thereto formspermanent joint effectively closing the small crack between the abuttingends to prevent the insertion of tools or the entrance of foreign matterinto the space deined by the member 2.

The bridge 8 is provided with three apertures I2, or as many as desired,for the purpose of securing the assembly to a, support, as described inconjunction with Fig. 3.

Two blocks i4 'of insulating material such as porcelain are suspendedfrom the bridge I by means of bolts I6 which extend through the bridgeand a suitable aperture in the porcelain block which terminates in arecess i8. The recess I8 is so formed that it may receive a nut in suchmanner that the nut cannot turn when the bolt I6 is screwed down, andthe nut is held in position by a flexible washer 22, which may be ofbrass, forced into the opening below-the nut. It will be noted that theupper surface of the block I4 is recessed to `receive the bridge 8 andprojections I5 are provided to register with corresponding notches inthe bridge, so that the block i4 is iirmly held in its intended positionat right angles to the bridge, even though only one boit I6 is employed.

Each of theinsulating blocks is provided with a pair of contact jaws 24which are maintained in position by machine screws 20 (Fig. 2) extendingupwardly through the block i4, through a suitable aperture in the baseof the contact jaw, and into threaded `engagement with a conductingstrap' 2l. The portion of each block Il which receives the jaw 24 isrecessed, as at 29 so that when the jaw and its conducting strap 2O arerotated 90 the jaw will seat in said recess. When the jaw is in theposition shown, or rotated 180 from that position, one side of its baseportion bears against a shoulder on the block. as shown.

As a result, when the jaw is in any one of its three possible positions,it is eectively maintained in position by a single securing screw 26.

The two straps 28 in the lower half of Fig. l4

terminate, as shown more clearly in Fig, in a return bent loop forreceiving the end of a ton-i ductor, the latter being secured therein bymeans of a set screw 38 for making the service connes tion to thesecontact jaws.

'I'he upper conducting straps 28 and the conductor clamp secured theretoare oi. somewhat diiferent form as shown more clearly in Figs. d, 5, and6. The strap 28 is of angular form having the portion which supports theclamp on a lower plane than the portion which extends through the jaw24. Accordingly, the supply conductors through the upper clamps in theupper half of Fig. 1, will be in a different and lower plane than theservice conductors for the purpose of simplifying the wiring of thesocket when continuous cables are used.

Each of the upper clamps 26 comprises a me1n= ber 32 of U-shape havingthe inner faces of the legs threaded to receive a screw 34. The two legs32 are surrounded by a substantially rectangular' continuous collar 36to prevent the separation of the legs when the screw 34 is clampeddownagainst a conductor. The screw 34 has a reduced lower portionextending loosely through an aper-rl ture in a plate 35 and is deformedto secure it in position so that the plate travels with the screw whenthe latter is turned. The plate 35 extends beyond the edges of the legs32 and is interlocked with the collar 36 so that the screw 34, plate 35and collar 36 move as a unit to clamping position.

As a result, the collar 3B is always in a position to brace the legs 32at the point of greatest stress tending to spread the legs during theclamping operation. It is'contemplated that these terminals, which arelarger than those used for the service conductors, will receive therelatively heavier supply conductors in cases where a plurality of thesockets of my invention are mounted on a channel with the supplyterminals of all sockets connected in parallel to relatively heavysupply conductors or bus bars.

When the terminal clamps of Figs. 4 through 6 are employed, the wiringof a channel or trough installation is greatly simplified. Conductorsfor the supply terminals (32 etc.) are extended through the channelbefore the meter socket is attached thereto. Such conductors may bebare, as a bus bar, or insulated with the insulation removed at spacedpoints corresponding to the positions of the terminals.` After thesockets are secured in position, the portions 34, 35, and 36 of eachclamp are removed as a unit. The supply conductor may then be lifted anddropped between the legs 32 of the successive clamps, and when the parts34, 35, and 36 are replaced and screwed down, the conductor is tightlyclamped against the end of conducting strap 28, thereby insuring a goodelectrical and mechanical connection between the conductor and strap.

Referring more specifically to Fig. 3, the supporting structure in..this instance comprises a channel 40 having an open front which ispartiallyclosed by a plate 42 suitably secured thereto and having anaperture slightly smaller than the diameter of the flange 4 of thesupporting socket 2. The flange 4 may be Welded or otherwise suitablysecured to the plate 42.

'I'he channel may also be provided with angles 44 secured, as bywelding, to the top and bottom walls of the channel and having one legexposed envases through the opening defined by the circular aperture inthe plate 42 in a. position to receive screws 46 threaded through theupper and lower holes I 2 of the bridge 8. For a different type ofmounting it may be desired to secure the bridge 28 adjacent the centerthereof, in which case a screw may be inserted through the centralaperture I2 of the bridge.

The meter proper, as in Fig. 3, comprises a measuring mechanism 58suitably supported as by posts 52 upon a metallic base plate 54. Themechanism may be enclosed by a glass cover 56 which is secured to thebase 54 by a permanent clamping ring 58 which embraces the rim on thecover and is provided with portions 60 which snap into recesses in theglass to prevent the removal of the cover from the base without breakingthe former. The meter is provided with contact blades 62 which projectthrough the plate 54 and have terminal portions 63 within the cover forconnection to the windings thereof.

When the meter is placed in operative position with the contacts 62inserted in the jaws 24, a sealing ring 64 of the type described in theaforesaid Patent No. 1,969,499 embraces the base ilange of the meter andthe underedge of the flange I on the socket 2. By reason of theinclination of the flange 6, greater structural strength is obtained andanother important advantage accrues from its use. lIn meter mountingsthe base socket frequently is of cup-shape and of cast material which isrelatively thick. The clamping ring G4, therefore, has to be Wide enoughto receive and accommodate the thick flange on the socket. Inasmuch asthis type of meter socket is still widely used and will continue to bemanufactured, it is desirable, for purposes of economy, to have the ring64 standard for all types of installation, and the inclination oftheilange 8 is such that a standard type of clamping ring may be usedinterchangeably on sockets of the cast or sheet metal type.

It should be apparent from the foregoing that an efficient mounting hasbeen devised which is readily adapted to various types of mountingsencountered in practice; and is of inexpensive and rugged construction.Quite obviously, many modifications may be made in the exact structureshown, and it is intended that the invention shall only be limited bythe scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A meter supporting socket comprising a strip of sheet material sobent that the free ends thereof are in abutting relation to form acircular member, a bridge extending diametrically across said circularmember and secured to the inner periphery thereof with one end overlyingsaid abutting free ends, means for securing the bridge in such position,insulating blocks secured to said bridging member, and spaced pairs ofelectrical contact devices on each of said blocks including terminalsfor connection to a circuit.

2. A meter supporting socket comprising a cylindrical member of sheetmaterial, a radially extending flange from one edge of said member forengaging a support, an outwardly extending flange from the other edge ofthe member inclined toward said first mentioned ange, a. bridge of stripmaterial extending across said member with its ends secured thereto, aninsulating member for supporting electrical contacts, and means forsecuring said insulating member to said bridge.

3. A meter supporting socket comprising a cylindrical member of sheetmaterial, a radially extending ange from one edge of said member forengaging a support, an outwardly extending flange from the other edge ofthe member inclined toward said iirst mentioned iiange, a bridge ofstrip material extending across said member with its ends securedthereto, an insulating member for supporting electrical contacts, andmeans for securing said insulating member to said bridge in a planeoffset with respect to those defined by the edges of the cylindricalmember.

4. A meter supporting socket comprising a cylindrical member of sheetmaterial, a radially extending iange from one edge of said member forengaging a support, an outwardly extending iange from the other edge ofthe member inclined toward said first mentioned iiange, a bridge ofstrip material extending across said member with its ends securedthereto, an insulating member for supporting electrical contacts, meansfor' securing said insulating member to said bridge in a plane offsetwith respect to those dened by the edges of the cylindrical memberincluding a boit extending through said insulating member into a recessin the opposite side thereof for cooperation with a nut, and means forremovably retaining s-aid nut in said recess and for preventing turningthereof.

WALTER G. MYLIUS.

